Press Release

IRMI Renames Best Practices Award to Honor WTC Victim

Dallas, TX, May 5, 2002—International Risk Management Institute, Inc. (IRMI), has announced that it will rename its Construction Risk Management Best Practices Award in honor of Gary E. Bird, a nationally known risk management expert whose life was taken on September 11, 2001. Mr. Bird was a senior vice president with Marsh, Inc., and was in the Marsh offices of the World Trade Center when the building was destroyed in the terrorist attacks. In acknowledgment of Gary's significant and cutting-edge risk management solutions and his contributions to the construction risk management community, IRMI is pleased to rename the Construction Risk Management Best Practices Award in his honor. The award will now be known as the Gary E. Bird Horizon Award.

According to Jack Gibson, IRMI president, "If there was a member of the risk management community who could serve as a role model for a Construction Risk Management Best Practices Award recipient, it was Gary Bird. Gary always pushed the risk management horizon in search of new ways to manage the risks of large construction projects." In his 12-year tenure as director of risk management with Phelps Dodge Corporation, Mr. Bird implemented loss control programs, alternative risk financing programs including the formation of two Bermuda-domiciled captive insurance companies, controlled insurance programs (operational and environmental) domestically and internationally, environmental liability insurance programs, and a complete international insurance program covering operations in over 30 countries. Additionally, Gary was the author of The Wrap-Up Guide, the authoritative work on the installation and operation of controlled insurance programs published by IRMI.

In 1998, IRMI created the Construction Risk Management Best Practices Award to promote the awareness of innovative risk management techniques and processes that have proven to be cost-efficient and effective in the construction industry. In its first 3 years, the award was bestowed on Gayle Jones of Snyder Langston and George Bragg of Bragg Crane Services for their development of a crane safety manual, Paul Day of Cianbro Corporation for a behavior-based safety process, and TJ Lyons of Rifenburg Construction, Inc., for adapting the OSHA Voluntary Protection Plan (VPP) Accreditation for use in the road construction industry.

The first Gary E. Bird Horizon Award will be presented at the Marsh-sponsored award luncheon during the 22nd IRMI Construction Risk Conference in San Diego November 11-14, 2002. To find out more about this award, its qualification requirements, and how to apply, contact Christine Fuge of IRMI at 1-800-827-4242, ext. 346, or visit IRMI's website at IRMI and go to the "Conference" section of the site.

Founded in 1978, International Risk Management Institute, Inc., is a Dallas-based research and publishing organization specializing in risk management and insurance reference manuals, books, and newsletters. These references and the firm's website, IRMI.com, provide practical strategies and tactics for insurance buyers, human resources professionals, risk managers, agents, brokers, underwriters, claims adjusters, and attorneys. IRMI is also the sponsor of the annual IRMI Construction Risk Conference, which is the only national symposium devoted exclusively to managing and insuring construction risks. Visit IRMI, or call 1-800-827-4242 for more information.